Rail-joint.



E. A. STARK.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 21, 1908.

. 91 2,913. Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

and beneath the head of the rail.

UNITED ESSET A. STARK, OF HOPE, ARKANSAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed March 21, 1908. Serial No. 422,566.

Be it known that I, ESSET A. STARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hope, in the county of Hempstead and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints and the object of the invention is to construct the conti uous meeting ends of a pair of rails in anovefi and peculiar manner whereby the use of fishplates in connecting the rails is entirely obviated, and whereby a jointure of the rails is eflected so as to present a substantially continuous rail wherein lateral or other, displacement of the rails is successfully overcome.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction of rails hereinafter fully described'and claimed. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a air of rails con structed in accordance w1th my invention.

Fig. 2 is a ,central longitudinal section through the meeting ends of the rails. Fig.

3 is a transverse sectional viewiupon the hue ?-3 ofjFi 1, the section being enlarged to more clearly illustrate the parts. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a complete rail.

11 the accompanying drawings and more clearly illustrated by Fig. 4 thereof, my improved rail is provided near one of its ends with an enlarged po rtionslightly less than the width of the head 1 of the rail. This enlargement is provided with a central channel 2 upon either side of which are the walls 3 and 4. The channel'2-is of a width a proximatel equaling that of the web of t e rail. The ody of the rail is constructed-in the ordinary manner, com vrising a head '5, web 6 and base flanges 7'. he base flange 7 is continued below the channel 2 for a suitable distance, and is provided near its end with a depression or pocket 8. The transverse wall of the ocket 8 is under cut or in clined as'at 9, and may be likewise under out should it be desired. The walls 3 and 4.are of a height equaling that of the rail between the base The walls are continued at a suitable curve from their connection with the edge of the base flange, and are provided with suitable openings adapted for the reception of retaining elements, as will be hereinafter more fully dethe edge of the base flange scribed.- The opposite end of the rail has its base flange 7 cut away from its end a distance corres ending with the distance between the e e of the base flange and the transverse wal of the channel 2. The web 6 of this end of the rail is rovided with'a downwardly extending ortlon comprising a lug 10, having a beveled face 11, adapted to be received within the beveled portion 9 of the pocket 8. The under face of this portion 10 terminates in a transverse wall'12, coinciding with the edge of the base flange rovided upon the opposite end of the rail. his wall 12 may be inclined or beveled to coincide with the edge of the base flange upon the o posite end of the rail should it be desired. he base flanges 7 u on each side of the web 6 adjacent the wa 12 are suitably inclined or curved to correspond with the curved ends of the walls 3 and 4. The

web at this end of the rail is provided with suitable transverse openings, adapted to aline with the openings provided upon the web at the adjacent end of the rail.

In connectin a pair of rails constructed in accordance wit my invention, the end of the rail having its base flange cut away is inserted upon the end of the rail having the walls 3 and 4, the inclined wall 11 of the tongue 10 engaging the inclined wall 9 of the pocket 8, the transverse wall 12 of the flange engaging the end of the flange provided upon the walls 3 and 4, the curved ends of the walls engaging the curved portions of the base flange and the head of the rail'resting upon the walls 3 and 4, the end of the web and head bein sitioned against the transverse wall oi the channel 2 and the cut away ortion of the head provided bythe walls. etaining elements are positioned within the openings provided by the web 6 and the walls 3 and 4, and the meeting ends of the rails effectively secured together.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, strong and effective means for connecting the meeting ends of rails. Rails constructed in accordance with my invention and connected as described are eflectively secured against lateral Havin thus fully described the invention what is c aimed as new is:

1. In a rail joint, the combination with a pair of rails, one of said rails being provided 5 with a central channel having stepped horizontal floors, the opposite rail section having its web and base flange and head cut away to engage the channel of the opposite rail sec tion, and the means for connecting the sec- ,10 tionstogether.

2. In a rail joint, the combination with a pair of rails, one of said rails being provided with a central channel having stepped floors,

the transverse edgesof said floors bein beveled, the opposite rail having its we and .5 flange cut away and stepped and provided with transverse bevels to engage the beveled floors of the channels and means for securing the rail sections together.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 20 in presence of two Witnesses.

ESSET Al STARK.

Witnesses:-

J. E. TARPLEY, T. W. WATSON. 

